Trulicity vs. Ozempic

See how Trulicity and Ozempic compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.

Key Takeaways

  • Trulicity and Ozempic are both once-weekly GLP-1 injections for type 2 diabetes, but Trulicity is approved for children 10 and older while Ozempic is adults-only.

  • Ozempic has an added FDA approval to slow chronic kidney disease progression, an indication Trulicity does not carry.

  • Both drugs cause similar rates of nausea, but Trulicity has higher reported rates of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in trials.

Trulicity vs. Ozempic Drug Summary

Trulicity

Trulicity (dulaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to control blood sugar in adults and children age 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It also lowers the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who have heart disease or multiple risk factors. It's injected under the skin once a week using a prefilled pen.

Ozempic

Ozempic (semaglutide) is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used to control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes, alongside diet and exercise. It also reduces cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, and slows chronic kidney disease progression. It's injected under the skin once a week using a prefilled pen.

Trulicity vs. Ozempic Side Effects

Trulicity

Most common
nausea (up to 21.1%)
vomiting (up to 13%)
abdominal pain (up to 13%)
diarrhea (up to 13%)

Ozempic

Most common
nausea (up to 20.3%)
vomiting (up to 9.2%)
abdominal pain (up to 7.3%)
diarrhea (up to 8.8%)

Trulicity vs. Ozempic Dosage

Trulicity

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.75 mg once weekly Weeks 1-4
Maximum dose 4.5 mg once weekly If needed
Dose changes 3 increases Every 4 weeks

Ozempic

Dosage
Dosage Table
STAGE DOSE WHEN
Starting dose 0.25 mg once weekly Weeks 1-4
Maximum dose 2 mg once weekly If needed
Dose changes 3 increases Every 4 weeks

Trulicity vs. Ozempic Indications

Trulicity

Trulicity is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults and children age 10 and older with type 2 diabetes. It's also approved to lower the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes who have established heart disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Some doctors prescribe it off-label for weight loss in people without diabetes.

  • Blood sugar control in adults and children 10+

  • Lowers cardiovascular risk with heart disease or risk factors

  • Approved for pediatric type 2 diabetes

  • Off-label: weight loss without diabetes

Ozempic

Ozempic is FDA-approved to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, used along with diet and exercise. It's also approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, and to slow chronic kidney disease progression. Some doctors prescribe it off-label for weight loss, though that indication officially belongs to Wegovy.

  • Blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes

  • Lowers cardiovascular risk with known heart disease

  • Slows chronic kidney disease progression

  • Off-label: weight loss without diabetes

Trulicity vs. Ozempic Pros and Cons

Trulicity

Trulicity is a GLP-1 agonist approved for both adults and children age 10 and older with type 2 diabetes, and its cardiovascular indication covers people with multiple risk factors, not just existing heart disease. It offers four dose strengths, giving more room to increase the dose if needed. Insurance coverage for both drugs varies widely by plan.

Pros

  • Approved for children 10 and older, unlike Ozempic's adults-only approval

  • Cardiovascular indication includes patients with multiple risk factors, not just existing heart disease

  • Offers two additional higher maintenance doses (3 mg, 4.5 mg) for extra blood sugar control

Cons

  • Higher reported rates of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain than Ozempic in trials

  • Starts at a higher 0.75 mg dose versus Ozempic's gentler 0.25 mg start

  • Not approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression, an indication Ozempic carries

Ozempic

Ozempic is a GLP-1 agonist approved only for adults with type 2 diabetes, but it carries an added indication to slow chronic kidney disease progression that Trulicity does not have. Its titration starts at a lower dose, which may ease the transition for some patients. Insurance coverage for both drugs varies widely by plan.

Pros

  • Approved to slow chronic kidney disease progression, an indication Trulicity lacks

  • Starts at a lower 0.25 mg dose, allowing a gentler titration

  • Lower reported rates of diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain than Trulicity in trials

Cons

  • Only approved for adults, not children, unlike Trulicity's pediatric approval

  • Cardiovascular indication requires established heart disease, not just risk factors

  • Fewer maintenance dose options at the higher end (max 2 mg vs Trulicity's 4.5 mg)

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